1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the murky shadows of the cemetery
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension
skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west
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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
a murky reply to a question about his intentions
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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murky
Housing plans Prospects for Pritzker’s ambitious package of proposals to build more housing in Illinois seemed murky Friday, though several pieces of legislation have inched forward in recent days.
—
Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2026
Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi.
—Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
The perfect piece of avocado toast or bowl of guacamole is at the mercy of whichever day your avocados decide to ripen—and then, that window of time is short before the avocados turn on you, going from bright green to murky brown in a matter of hours.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Season 4, which premiered in early April with weekly releases, picks up with Ayanokoji in his second year and brings a new slate of characters with murky motivations.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2026
Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi.
—Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
The perfect piece of avocado toast or bowl of guacamole is at the mercy of whichever day your avocados decide to ripen—and then, that window of time is short before the avocados turn on you, going from bright green to murky brown in a matter of hours.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
Season 4, which premiered in early April with weekly releases, picks up with Ayanokoji in his second year and brings a new slate of characters with murky motivations.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
Adjective
-
She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If the second section presents the diagnosis, then in the footnote to Howl Ginsberg writes a prescription, because if we’re oppressed by a dark faith then the only antidote is a different one.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Villains could hide in the giant banyan tree or lurk in the spookily dark new flotation room; a fight scene might involve someone crashing down the waterfall-wall in the centre of the wellness centre.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Scientific consensus is that this opaqueness is caused by hazy banks of clouds that are masking the atmospheres, but what kind of aerosol particles are in the clouds?—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 June 2026
-
This led Holland and the Bero team to look beyond traditional beer flavor profiles and the current lineup that includes a hazy IPA and lager-style pilsner.—
John Kell,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The entity known as Mother is left ambiguous, as is the tree inside the Cave of Wonders, but there are hints to their true nature.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
If a serious spending-reduction effort were somehow mounted anyway, the result would likely be positive for bonds — but ambiguous for equities, since the economic drag could easily outweigh the benefit of lower interest rates.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Government warnings are often vague or late.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Lisabeth Pérez Castle, the city’s independent monitor, said in a statement that the vague new approach to discipline does not clearly explain how safety officials will comply with city laws regarding the monitor’s oversight.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
For years, radical climate activists have painted a bleak view of the future.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The bleak, desolate masterpiece from 1989’s Pretty Hate Machine was used to great effect in 1995’s Natural Born Killers, the first film soundtrack produced by Reznor.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Ciudad Perdida, Colombia Hidden deep within the misty peaks of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the ancient city of Teyuna—better known as Ciudad Perdida—is one of South America’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.—
Carla Vianna,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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There, mountain gorillas roam the misty Virunga Mountains, a volcanic range shared with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or D.R.C., and Uganda.—
Mary Holland,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
No recent performance of Hiller’s looms as large, though, as his warmly cryptic episodic turn on Pluribus as Larry the friendly biker (complete with fabulous bike shorts).—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2026
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Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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